Best Facial Masks For Men

Want Better Skin, Quick? Work One Of These Face Masks Into Your Weekly Routine

With the rise of the sheet mask selfie, facial masks have become more and more popular over the past several years, and not just for women – men are also realising the incredible healing and maintenance power of a great face mask.

Facial masks are great for a variety of reasons, as they can target a lot of issues that both men and women have. Using a face mask once or twice per week can:

Moisturise skin

Reduce fine lines and wrinkles

Exfoliate and unclog pores

Get a deep clean that everyday cleansers can’t

Increase blood circulation in the face

Clear acne and blackheads

Provide general self-care that affects your mood and overall well-being

When it comes to face masks, however, it can be incredibly intimidating to pick one given all of the options out there. How do you find the mask that works best for you and your skin in between all of the lingo? There are three key considerations to think about before choosing and applying a mask:

Look at the ingredients, particularly medicinal additives (like collagen, peptides, or hyaluronic acid) and essential oils (like olive or grapeseed,) to make sure there’s nothing that could cause allergies.

See which special ingredients are included (such as charcoal, volcanic ash) to produce a certain effect. For example, charcoal is known to help detoxify and exfoliate the skin. A mask to reduce inflammation and redness will include more soothing ingredients, like mint.

Read the instructions for how long to leave a mask on for, as well as what you should do before or after applying it. For instance, most masks say to cleanse the skin beforehand, and depending on the strength of the products in the mask, the directions may say to do a second cleansing afterwards to ensure all remnants are gone.

Lastly, before you start lathering any mask on your face, have a routine in place to get the best results:

Cleanse your face using warm water to open up the pores and remove any excess dirt or oil. If you put on a mask without doing this first, you could be trapping those impurities in your skin and further clogging your pores.

Pat your skin dry with a clean towel and put on the mask as directed. Make sure to read the instructions for how long it should be on and if there are any special application directions. Avoid the eye area.

Wash off the mask with clean hands and gently using a clean washcloth if need be with warm water.

Use a toner and/or a moisturiser to even out pores and hydrate the skin.

Now that you know the basics of using a mask, it’s time to dive into what types of masks you could potentially be using. Here are a few top-rated ones to try out depending on your skin care needs and skin type.

Freeman Avocado & Oatmeal Clay Mask

Best for: First-time mask users.What you should know: It’s one of the cheapest products on the market.The verdict: Want to dip your toe into the world of facial masks but don’t want to break the bank to do it? Freeman’s smooth avocado and oatmeal clay mask is hydrating and detoxifying, making it a great mask to use regularly as well as a once-in-a-while indulgence.£3.90 at Amazon

Kyoku Lava Masque Acne Treatment

Best for: Getting rid of pesky acne.What you should know: It uses 73 essential sea minerals.The verdict: Kyoku’s mask gets to the root cause of what causes acne by using six dozen minerals and special lava mud to cut down on the inflammation within pores and get rid of excess oil and bacteria. This same plethora of ingredients is also designed to absorb even the most hard-to-reach impurities, especially given that many men have rougher or thicker skin than traditional products can handle.£9.99 at Amazon

Lab Series Urban Blue Detox Clay Mask

Best for: Pore uncloggingWhat you should know: It’s particularly helpful for your T-zoneThe verdict: Lab Series’ mask combines clay and charcoal ingredients to bring you the ultimate unclogging machine, particularly for that pesky T-zone. For the best results, be sure to apply the mask evenly on your skin so that all of your pores get some love, and have a moisturiser ready afterwards.£26 at Boots

TonyMoly Egg Pore Tightening Pack Mask

Best for: Skin tightening.What you should know: TonyMoly is a Korean beauty fan favorite – largely due to their creative packaging and affordable, high-quality formulas.The verdict: As the name suggests, this mask includes egg whites and green tea extracts, known to shrink pores and add nutrient-rich antioxidants to the skin. It functions a little differently from most masks in that it’s a follow-up treatment after using another cleansing or toning product, to tighten pores that were cleaned in the process.£13 at Amazon

Jack Black Deep Dive Glycolic Facial Cleanser

Best for: Preventing ingrown hairs.What you should know: It’s a cleanser that actually doubles up as a purifying mask.The verdict: It’s simple enough to get results – just apply to the skin and leave to dry for five minutes. The key ingredient, glycolic acid, exfoliates away dead skin cells and stops ingrown hairs that are caused by shaving. This multi-tasker also contains over ten antioxidant minerals, oil-absorbing kaolin clay, oatmeal and moisturising vitamin E.£17.50 at Amazon

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Masque

Best for: Night-time hydration.What you should know: Leave a thin layer of this mask on overnight for best results.The verdict: Using squalene and fountain plants, Kiehl’s have created a two-part mask that’ll keep your skin hydrated when you sleep. After steeping your skin like a traditional mask for 10 minutes, simply dab most of the treatment off with a tissue and leave a small coating for overnight hydration. It’s also a great way to prep your skin for any morning rituals like shaving.£29 at John Lewis

Anthony Deep Pore Cleansing Clay

Best for: Getting rid of blackheads.What you should know: Best used on a weekly basis.The verdict: This one's made from Kaolin and Bentonite clay, which give it a rich red colour and are known to remove impurities from the skin. This cleansing mask will loosen devilish blackheads, unclog pores, and evens out skin tone with a cheeky dose of Vitamins A, C and E. Best used on oily to normal skin. £23 at Amazon

Dermalogica Skin Refining Masque

Best for: Oily skin.What you should know: If this one doesn't suit you, Dermalogica have a range of masques for different skin needs.The verdict: This one is designed to purify oily skins, and can be used as an all-over mask or to target an especially troublesome T-zone. It's formula won't over-dry your skin though, making for a balanced, refreshing result – stripping away the impurities and excess oils that clog up pores.£30.30 at John Lewis

Clinique Turnaround Revitalizing Instant Facial

Best for: A super quick fix.What you should know: It takes just five minutes to use.The verdict: If you want to look good in a flash, this powerful mask from Clinique should do the trick. It accelerates the turnover of skin cells so that you can look your smoother, fresher and more radiant bloke-ish best. Great for all skin types.£32 at Boots

Perricone MD Chloro Plasma Mask

Best for: Removing wrinkles.What you should know: It's fast working and promises results after just one use.The verdict: This gel-to-clay concoction releases bursts of chlorophyll, turning this detoxing mask into a costume-worthy shade of green. Dr. Perricone’s plasma technology will keep you looking fresh, with phytonutrients to purify the skin, smooth wrinkles and close up those enlarged pores.£62.10 at Amazon